A smaller affordable housing project than previously proposed will be built at the end of Don Juan Avenue, adjacent to the Interstate 5 Freeway, in San Juan Capistrano, but this one will be for older adults.
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“It was pretty amazing to see the support for this project,” Councilmember John Taylor said. “It’s a great use of the property.”
The City Council unanimously approved an agreement with C&C Development for the 50-unit, 3-story apartment complex at its latest meeting. C&C Development previously partnered with the city on the 75-unit senior community, The Groves, at Camino Capistrano and Junipero Serra Road, also an affordable housing project.
The 50 units will bring the city one step closer to meeting its regional housing needs goals outlined by the state, officials said. Affordable housing remains one of the city’s top priorities, and the new development has received widespread enthusiasm from community members, Mayor John Campbell said.
The 1.8-acre property was previously owned by a different affordable housing developer, which in 2021 proposed a 6-story, 107-unit affordable housing project with 14 parking spaces. However, resident concerns regarding project density, building height and insufficient parking stalled development efforts at the time. The city purchased the land for $2.35 million the following year, with plans to find another developer.
“Housing has become such a big issue, especially in our communities,” Taylor said. “The alternative would have been really detrimental to the community surrounding that area, so I’m really supportive of this project.”
Over the past year, city staff focused on curating a vision that minimizes disruption among the surrounding neighborhood, Campbell said. The approved version satisfies that objective, he said.
“It was a wonderful transformation,” Campbell said. “It was amazing (to tell) residents that we’re putting in 50 senior housing units and hear such positive feedback, and I think it spoke to the way the City Council worked and fought to minimize the impacts of the project and also to their understanding of how important senior housing is in our community.”
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The city will contribute $6 million in dedicated affordable housing funds toward the development.
Campbell said C&C Development will prioritize San Juan Capistrano residents who wish to apply for housing when it becomes available. He added that the developer has also made strong efforts to increase the accessibility of housing updates by offering a multilingual communication system.
Community members showed up in support of the project at the council’s recent meeting, underscoring the need for expanded affordable housing options throughout San Juan Capistrano. Resident Daniel Fernandez, who was among those present, urged the council members to continue advocating for true affordability amidst rising housing costs.
“There is an affordability crisis, a cost burden, and I think it’s important that when it comes to affordable housing, it does address actual affordable housing for those making less than $50,000 or $40,000 (a year),” Fernandez said.
Working alongside community members, city leaders determined that the project must address key concerns about parking and neighborhood compatibility, Taylor said. The approved plan includes a parking garage with 50 parking spaces.
“This is something that is affordable, that gives people a place to park a vehicle, and it doesn’t burden the existing historic neighborhood,” Councilmember John Taylor said.
The agreement also includes a performance schedule granting the developer 60 days to submit an entitlement application to the city’s Planning Commission and the standard time to obtain funding and building permits, according to the staff report. Once the project breaks ground — as early as fall of 2028 — city officials anticipate construction to be completed in two and a half years.
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